Schenectady County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.7 | 159,902 people · 9th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Schenectady County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.7 — 1361st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within New York, it ranks 9th of 62 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Schenectady County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 91.3 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 91.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 87
Economic Vitality 72.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 69
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Legal Distress 62.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Structural Poverty 38.3
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 29
Consumer Credit Distress 35.4
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 4
Subprime Credit Population 50

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Schenectady County
Schenectady County, NY 53.7 Elevated —
Montgomery County, NY 64.6 Elevated +11.0
Albany County, NY 43.5 Normal -10.2
Schoharie County, NY 40.0 Normal -13.6
Saratoga County, NY 30.9 Healthy -22.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Schenectady County
Kenosha County, WI 53.6 Elevated -0.0
Jackson County, OR 53.6 Elevated -0.0
Surry County, NC 53.5 Elevated -0.2
Georgetown County, SC 53.8 Elevated +0.2
Umatilla County, OR 53.5 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Schenectady County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Schenectady County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Schenectady County.

BETTER COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS, INC. (formerly Better Neighborhoods, Inc.)
Schenectady
518-372-7616
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase

See all counselors in New York →

Find an Attorney

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-3661

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Schenectady County residents at no cost.

Legal Services NYC 1-917-661-4500
Legal Aid Society 1-212-577-3300
Empire Justice Center 1-585-454-4060
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York 1-800-462-2922
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (877) 777-6152
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (585) 325-2520
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (877) 574-8529
Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. (631) 232-2400
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (716) 847-0650

Self-Help Resources

NYCourts.gov Foreclosure Help Official court system page with information about the foreclosure process, settlement conferences, and available resources. Includes court forms and instructions for pro se litigants.
LawHelp NY — Foreclosure Resources Comprehensive self-help legal information portal for New York residents. Includes foreclosure guides, court form generators, and legal services finder organized by county.

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in New York →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Schenectady County, New York?

    Schenectady County has a County Distress Index score of 53.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,361st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Schenectady County?

    The primary driver of distress in Schenectady County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 91.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Schenectady County compare to neighboring counties?

    Schenectady County (53.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, NY (64.6); Albany County, NY (43.5); Schoharie County, NY (40.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Schenectady County's score of 53.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Schenectady County's CDI score?

    Schenectady County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Schenectady County?

    Schenectady County, New York has a population of approximately 159,902 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.